| Water Turtles are one of those rare prehistoric | | | | modest. |
| creatures which have survived countless odds to still | | | | They are distinguished by their bright scarlet ears, |
| exist in today's world. You will find it difficult to | | | | hence the name "Red Eared". They can be found in |
| believe but turtles, as species, are 200 millions years | | | | fresh waters in thousands and are prolific species. |
| old - perhaps one of the oldest surviving species on | | | | Other pretty color morphs are leucistic, pastel and |
| earth. Even the fossils that have been unearthed are | | | | albino. |
| almost exact replicas of the water turtles that exist | | | | Painted Turtle |
| today. | | | | You can find painted turtles by the thousands in |
| Water turtles - both the popular and unusual kinds, | | | | Mexico, Canada and USA. They are the most visually |
| are aquatic to semi-aquatic creatures. Their natural | | | | appealing and beautiful turtle species on earth. |
| habitat is water and they love to paddle about in | | | | The sub-species of painted turtles are the Eastern |
| rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. | | | | Painted Turtle, Western Painted Turtle, Midland |
| To aid in swimming and paddling, nature has gifted | | | | Painted Turtle and Southern Painted Turtle. The |
| them with webbed feet. Semi-aquatic turtles are the | | | | younger ones are carnivorous while the adults are |
| ones that are found in swamps and marshes. Like | | | | herbivores. If you have a painted turtle as a pet, it is |
| their other cousins, water turtles are extremely slow, | | | | OK to keep it in a large tub or water tank. |
| patient, placid, unflappable creatures that can | | | | African Side Necked Turtle |
| withdraw into their shell when faced with danger and | | | | The African Side-Necked Turtle has a pug nose and a |
| live for long years. Turtles have lived 2, 3 or even 4 | | | | naturally upturned smile. This contributes to its cute |
| centuries! | | | | appeal and it is generally considered a "good looking" |
| Types of Water Turtles | | | | turtle. These turtles are also known as the African |
| The most popular water turtles that fly off the rack | | | | Mud Turtles. It consists of 15 sub-species in which |
| in pet stores and are a hit with pet owners are: | | | | some are large in size while the rest are |
| Red Eared Slider Turtle | | | | comparatively smaller. One species is known as the |
| Red Eared Slider Turtles make wonderful pets as | | | | African Helmeted Turtle. These species of turtles are |
| they are quite tame by nature, especially in captivity. | | | | prolific breeders, aggressive, curious, hardy, initially |
| They are calm, quiet, and very hardy in their natural | | | | shy and adaptive. |
| habitat. The requirements to maintain them are | | | | |